In The Garden With Jesus
Key Text: John 1:-14
A mob led by Judas arrests Jesus. Jesus allows Himself to be taken, first negotiating the release of His disciples 8-9 John tells us that Peter boldly strikes out to protect His master but succeeds only in cutting off the right ear of Malchus, a servant of the high priest. What follows next is the will of the Father.
In the garden Jesus makes just two statements on two occasions v.5 & 6, Whom are you seeking? and I am He
Jesus was saying ‘I’m the one you are looking for and having found me, let my disciples go free.’
Jesus was of course speaking to the natural circumstances but He in His omniscience (His knowledge of all things) 4 was speaking to future generations, to us. I’m the one you’re looking for and when you find me you will be set free. The truth will set you free ‘so if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed John 8:36
In His omniscience v.4 Jesus is centre stage, Jesus is in control the soldiers are background figures to the scene.
I am He simply on the surface identifies Jesus in terms of who He is, just as the seven other ‘I am’ sayings does in John. But when Jesus says it on this occasion 5 it reveals something new about who He is, it reveals Him As Adonai, The Lord and there is an unleashing of His inherent power as God. It’s the same revelation that was given to Moses in Exodus 3:14I am who I am
We know this because at the declaration of those words, the mob including the soldiers recoiled back and fell on the floor.
In the revelation of Jesus chapter 4 there is a picture of the throne of God with Jesus present and the elders and four living creatures fall on their faces v.10 Elders represent the Church of God in all ages; they and we sit with Christ in heavenly places, even while we are toiling and sorrowing on earth;
Ephesians 2:4-6 God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
At the revelation of Jesus ‘I am He’ The forces of evil, corrupt religion expressed in the temple police, political ruthlessness embodied in the Roman soldiers all fall back in the presence of Jesus who offers Himself up to their will. We need to know that whatever darkness is hanging over us, Jesus the light has overcome. However far you think you are away from God, His love goes further. However loud the voices of the age are, Jesus speaks louder.
Jesus in the garden tells us of His dominion and mastery over all things, Jesus in the garden reminds us of the Easter victory.
When Jesus in v.9 makes the statement ‘of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.’ It is a reminder for us of what He had previously declared in John 6:39 And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that He has given me, but raise it up on the last day. And again in John 17:12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
These words remind us that that in Jesus is our security, they remind us that the good shepherd has committed Himself to His sheep.
Whatever the wolf may represent in our lives today, guilt and shame from past failures, accusing voices of criticism, paralysing feelings of inadequacy, the hurt of rejection know that Jesus the good Shepherd is there to meet them and to speak His word of command ‘let my disciple go’. Offering Himself up to His captors so that His disciples might go free, is the picture of His whole work of atonement. Taking our place, absorbing our guilt and all its implications, so that we might go free. – Question
v.11 picks up the language of Jesus’ prayer in the garden ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’ Mark 14:36
What is this cup that Jesus speaks about? It is the symbol of God’s judgement. It is the cup of God’s wrath against human sin. But because of the mercy of God the cup of His righteous wrath is given not into the hands of His enemies but of His beloved son.
And He will drink it down until it is empty, until the moment comes when ‘I thirst’ gives way to ‘It is finished’